The two Leeds United players who have won the Africa Cup of Nations ahead of AFCON 2025

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AFCON is back in 2025, but which Leeds United players have won the prestigious trophy in the past?

The Africa Cup of Nations, or AFCON, returns for the first time in two years in 2025, getting underway on December 21 in Morocco.

Domestic football does not stop for the tournament, so many Premier League clubs will see their stars taking part in the tournament leave by December 14 at the absolute latest.

The final for AFCON doesn’t take place until January 18, so some clubs may be without key players for a significant chunk of the season.

Thankfully, Leeds United do not have to worry about that this year, with no member of Daniel Farke’s squad representing a country that will take part in the tournament.

However, that’s not always been the case; in fact, two former Leeds players won the tournament while playing at Elland Road.

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• Leeds United 2025/26 squad cost in full – Transfer fees and stats for every player

Every Leeds United player to win AFCON

Leeds have a history of bringing in sensational African players, with the biggest example being the iconic Lucas Radebe.

Signed in 1994 from Kaizer Chiefs, the classy centre-back would spend the next 11 years in Yorkshire and become a massive Leeds legend.

Radebe was recently made a Leeds ambassador and still regularly attends games, having been in attendance for the last two Premier League fixtures vs Bournemouth and Tottenham.

In 1996, Radebe played every single game for South Africa as they lifted the trophy for the first, and up until now, only time in their history, on home soil.

South Africa defeated Tunisia 2-0 in the final in Johannesburg and Radebe wasn’t the only Leeds player in the squad, as he was joined by Philemon Masinga.

The striker arrived at Leeds at the same time as Radebe but departed in July 1996 after winning AFCON in February.

The duo became the first current Premier League players to ever win AFCON.

Leeds United players at AFCON

Leeds’ connection with AFCON does not end there, though.

Their latest connection came last time out when Ivory Coast won the tournament for the third time and had a 36-year-old Max Gradel in the squad.

The winger played for Leeds between 2009-2011 and became a fan favourite thanks to his lightning pace and electric skill.

Meanwhile, Salomon Olembe won the tournament twice with Cameroon, in 2000 and 2002, before signing for Leeds on loan from Marseille in 2003.

Elsewhere, Leeds legend Tony Yeboah, as well as El Hadji Diouf and Sol Bamba, all picked up silver AFCON medals in their careers, with Ghana, Senegal and the Ivory Coast, respectively.